Azores unemployment falls to 4.3% in the third quarter
Azores GuideOnly the Algarve and Madeira had lower rates among Portugal's regions. About 5,500 people were out of work in the islands.
The unemployment rate in the Azores was 4.3% in the third quarter of 2026, below the national rate of 5.5%, according to figures from the regional statistics service SREA and the national institute INE. The rate fell 0.5 percentage points from the same quarter of 2025 and 0.7 points from the previous quarter.
About 5,500 people were unemployed, fewer than a quarter and a year earlier. The number of people in work rose 1.3% year on year to 121,300, according to Correio dos Açores, but fell 0.7% from the second quarter. The active population was 126,800.
The Azores had the third lowest rate of Portugal's nine NUTS II regions, Açoriano Oriental reports. Only the Algarve and Madeira, both at 4.0%, were lower.
In the services sector, employees earned an average net monthly wage of 1,277 euros, up 4.5% on a year earlier, Correio dos Açores reports.
Sources
Azores Guide
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